Today, quite a lot of people enjoy baths with great pleasure. This is a great place to have a great time with friends or family. Building a bathhouse or sauna with your own hands is a very difficult task, requiring some experience and knowledge. This is especially true for lighting, since it will work in conditions of elevated temperature and humidity. To achieve good comfort in the steam room, and at the same time the level of security was quite high, many factors will have to be considered. To save you from unnecessary problems and simplify the task, in this article we will tell in detail about how to make lighting in the bath. The technology for installing and laying an electric cable for each of the rooms will also be described in detail.
Basic Safety Standards
This is worth dwelling in more detail. Before we talk about how to equip the lighting in the bathhouse, in the relaxation room and in the washing room, let's first look at the basic norms and criteria that it must meet in terms of fire safety. As each of us knows, a bathhouse and a sauna consists of several rooms, each of which is intended for specific purposes. In this case, all the rooms put forward various requirements for the installation of lighting fixtures.
The main norms are:
- In the steam room, the minimum level of illumination should be 75 lux.
- There should be a comfortable atmosphere in the dressing room, so it is worth choosing lamps with a light value of at least 150 lux for it. At the same time, they should be installed at a height of 80 centimeters.
- If you want a bath in the bath, then in the room in which it will be located, you need lighting with a rated power of 100 lux.
It is worth noting that these are just general rules that must be taken into account. If you will independently conduct lighting for the bath, then it is preliminary recommended that you read paragraph 2.30 of 59-88 departmental building codes. It describes in detail what types of lighting devices should be used, how to properly install them and in what place, and also describes in detail the level of protection.
Lighting Design
What is worth knowing about this? Before you install the lighting in the steam room with your own hands, you must first think through everything and carefully calculate. Particular attention should be paid to the type of lamps used, their location and method of attachment, taking into account the basic building codes, which were described earlier. Next, we will talk in detail about what to consider when designing a lighting network for each of the rooms.
Steam room lighting
So how to make it right? This room is the heart of the bath, because it is here that people wash. It is very hot and damp, so for the arrangement of the lighting network, you should choose lamps that are not afraid of high temperatures and water. You can buy them in specialized stores.
When designing lighting in a steam room, the following aspects should be taken into account:
- Placement of fixtures. They should provide a sufficient level of light, but not blind eyes. The best option is to install the lamps in the corners of the room.
- Lighting devices must have a protective glass, so as not to accidentally break them. In addition, it will prevent moisture from entering the lamp and prevent the possibility of a short circuit.
Since the lamps heat up during operation, the protective glass can also become very hot. Therefore, to avoid burns, it is also recommended to use a wooden lampshade. It will not only protect you from accidental injuries, but will also act as an excellent decoration element.
It is also worth noting that, when conducting lighting in the bath with your own hands, you also need to carefully think through the wiring. It can be both open and closed. As a rule, the second method is used, and the cables are closed with wooden sheathing. But at the same time, heat and water insulation of the walls using flame-resistant material is a prerequisite, and the cable is hidden in a plastic corrugation with a diameter of 1 centimeter. Outdoor installation assumes that wiring will be done on the outside of the wall.
Shower lighting
What should it be? Lighting in the bathhouse with your own hands for the washing room has certain differences than for the steam room. In particular, this concerns the number of restrictions, which are much greater. This is due to the fact that the humidity level in this room is quite high, so the risk of short circuit and electric shock is much higher. It is very important to consider special areas for electrical safety.
They are divided into the following:
- The first is a conditional plane located above the shower head. It is strictly forbidden to place any electrical appliances, including lamps, with the exception of those that have the appropriate protection class.
- The second is located between the pallet and ends at a height of 60 centimeters above the floor. It is here that you need to install lighting fixtures.
As in the case of the steam room, equipping the lighting for the bath in the shower room, cable laying can be carried out both openly and hidden. The second method is more preferable because it is much more reliable and safer.
As for lighting, the following types of lamps can be used for washing:
- LED;
- luminescent;
- multi-colored.
In this case, an important nuance is that the lamps have a degree of protection IP 44, which involves the use of electrical appliances in very high humidity.
Pool and lounge lighting
How to make it right? Lighting in the sauna and bathhouse for these rooms does not have as severe restrictions as the washing and steam rooms, so there will be no special problems with its equipment. Here, absolutely any fixtures that are mounted in the third zone can be used.
In order not to make a mistake with the choice, just consider the following nuances:
- most often for the pool use stationary fixtures with a power of 12 watts, the power of which is carried out from the network;
- decorative lighting, for example, any sconces with a unique design, is perfect for the relaxation room;
- to save on utility bills, it is better to use chandeliers or spotlights, as they provide better lighting and minimal shadows.
As for the wiring, it can be hidden in a standard steel corrugated pipe, because in the recreation area the usual temperature and humidity. If the walls in the room are sheathed with fireproof finishing materials, then the wiring is carried out in the same way as in residential premises.
Dressing room lighting
The entrance hall of the baths and saunas is designed so that a person can undress and change shoes. There is no high temperature and humidity, so you can use any kind of fixtures that your heart desires to light this room. According to professional builders, it is in the dressing room that it is best to have switches from all other rooms. As for the specific types of lamps, there is no fundamental difference here, but they must be of high power in order to provide a sufficient level of illumination.
Installation work
What are they like? After you have completely designed the lighting for the bath for each of the rooms, you can proceed directly to the installation.
However, in the process of performing the work, the following standards and requirements must be observed:
- Each electrical network must have a group shield, placed without fail outside the bathhouse or sauna.
- Any lighting system should be equipped with an automatic switching device that will turn off the power supply in case of current leakage above 30 mA.
- If the bathhouse is located separately from the main building, then cabling to it should be carried out by cable or overhead line.
- When arranging the wiring, it is forbidden to place electrical boxes in the steam room and shower. They can be equipped in a recreation area or dressing room. The same goes for switches.
- Lighting devices in all rooms must be of the same class.
Given all the above aspects, you can create a good and safe lighting in the bathhouse, the photo of which will look very attractive. Providing the maximum level of comfort during paired procedures.
A few words about the mains voltage
This issue should be given special attention. When designing lighting for a bath, it is very important to correctly calculate the optimal voltage for the mains. Its power can be 12, 36 and 220 volts. As a rule, most people stop at a standard household network, because it allows you to use various electronic devices in the bathhouse. For example, many people install a music center or a TV in the relaxation room to spend time with their family or friends.
In this case, it is very important to consider the following requirements:
- The electric network must be equipped with a mechanical switching device or differential machines.
- The power supply system of the bath must be earthed.
- In the electric network, a potential equalization system should be provided.
If for some reason the above requirements cannot be met, then in this case the option of a household network with a voltage of 220 volts disappears, therefore, a twelve-voltage power system should be considered. It is the most economical and safe for human life, because it poses absolutely no threat of electric shock by high power. Typically, such power systems are designed for rooms with a high level of danger, which include baths and saunas. In them, the air temperature can reach 100 degrees Celsius, as well as very high humidity. And, as everyone knows, these factors negatively affect the operation of lighting equipment that operates under high voltage. As practice shows, often the lamps even explode and cause serious injuries and injuries to people.
Thus, using 12-volt lighting in the steam room, you significantly increase your safety. The worst thing that can happen is a short circuit, and the risk of fire and electric shock is completely eliminated. However, you must understand that such a network requires a transformer, it is very difficult to implement and has a relatively low reliability. To eliminate the last drawback, you can equip the lighting in the bath in the steam room with LEDs. This will be a great solution.
DIY fiber optic lighting for a bathhouse
You can choose absolutely any lighting fixtures for your bath, however, experts advise that devices made of optical fiber will be a hundred best option. This is a modern synthetic material with affordable cost and many advantages.
Fiber optic lighting for a bath may not even have a wooden lampshade, since it does not emit a lot of heat during operation. At the same time, they are not too bright, therefore they do not blind eyes, and are able to withstand very high temperatures, due to which they are considered one of the most reliable.
To make such a lamp, you will need the following:
- Wood.
- Glass at least 4 mm thick.
- Plywood.
- Heat resistant film.
- Aluminum tape.
- Glue.
If you have everything you need at your fingertips, then you can start assembling the lamp. How to make lighting in a steam bath in a fiber optic steam room ?
The whole process is carried out in the following sequence:
- Templates of all details are made of plywood, and wooden planks with rounded edges are cut out of wood. After that, all elements are seated on glue and, to give strength, are additionally pulled together with self-tapping screws.
- Glass is cut out and wrapped in a heat-resistant film.
- The strips are cut and glued, on two of which holes are drilled to fix the glass.
- A hole of 5 millimeters is cut out in a getinax sheet.
- The reverse side is pasted over with aluminum adhesive tape, which acts as a reflector, after which lighting elements are mounted on superglue.
- Outside the steam room, a power supply is installed, from which an electric cable is supplied to the lamp.
- The lighting device is mounted on the wall using self-tapping screws, taking into account the basic safety requirements.
According to this principle, LED lighting is made and installed in the bath. It has low power consumption, as well as excellent reliability and safety. In addition, among their main advantages, it can be distinguished that in the manufacture of the main frame for the lamp you can perform it in absolutely any form, as well as implement various interesting design decisions.
Wooden fixtures
Such lamps are very popular because they look more natural and fit perfectly into any interior. To protect against burns and prevent lamp breaks, they are equipped with a wooden grill. In addition, the lighting is very soft and diffused, so it does not blind your eyes.
It is very easy to make a wooden lamp, and every person who does not even have any experience in carpentry can cope with this. An elementary lighting device made of wood consists of two bases connected by transverse rails. The shape of the frame is determined based on the location in which the lamp will be installed. For example, if the installation is carried out on a wall, then the shape can be rectangular, square and round. For angular arrangement, triangular lighting fixtures are best suited. To reduce the risk of burns, the brackets are secured from the inside.
Conclusion
So, here we have examined how to equip the lighting in a steam bath. As you can see, this process is very complicated, so you should approach it in all seriousness. Very often, due to the lack of certain knowledge and experience, many people have to turn to qualified electricians for help. This avoids many errors and maximizes security.
If you have never before been involved in conducting an electrical network, and your profession is not connected with this, then you should not try to save money and deal with everything yourself. It is best to immediately hire a professional who will quickly and efficiently do everything. Saving in this case is not the best option, because it may cost you and your loved ones life. In addition, you should not forget that working with electricity is fraught with high danger. But if you are still confident in your own abilities and do not want to use anyone's help, then be sure to adhere to all the tips and recommendations given in this article, and you will certainly succeed.